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High Energy Physics - Theory

Title:
Generic predictions of quantum theories of gravity

Abstract: I discuss generic consequences (sometimes called "soft predictions") of a
class of background independent quantum theories of spacetime called causal
spin network theories. These are theories whose kinematics and dynamics is
based on the evolution of labeled graphs, by local moves, such as in loop
quantum gravity and spin foam models. Some generic consequences are well known,
including the discreteness of quantum geometry, the elimination of spacetime
singularities, the entropy of black hole and cosmological horizons and the fact
that positive cosmological constant spacetimes are hot. Within the last few
years three possible generic consequences have come to light. These are 1)
Deformed special relativity as the symmetry of the ground state, 2) Elementary
particles as coherent excitations of quantum geometry, 3) Locality is
disordered. I discuss some possible experimental consequences of each.

Comments:

For inclusion in "Approaches to Quantum Gravity - toward a new understanding of space, time, and matter", edited by D. Oriti, to be published by Cambridge University Press